Learn from the Hiroshima bombing

No human being with an ounce of compassion in his or her soul would deny that what happened 70 years ago this month – the only hostile use of atomic bombs in history – was a horrible event. At least 129,000 people and as many as 246,000 perished when the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima, Aug. 6, 1945, and Nagasaki three days later.

But claiming the United States acted inappropriately in using the weapons continues. Historical revisionism proceeds. For example, one press report on the 70th anniversary stated the bombings “were credited at the time for helping end the war with Japan.” That implies there is some question now as to whether the attacks ended the war.

There is none.

Period.

Had U.S. officials not decided to use the bombs, the war would have proceeded, probably for months.

Beyond any reasonable doubt, many Americans and others fighting the Japanese would have perished needlessly.

And it is probable more Japanese than died in the bombings would have been killed.

No one in their right mind wants to see nuclear weapons used again.

But rewriting history is, if anything, a surer path to that than acknowledging the lessons of the past.